Knockdown box or crate.



A. C. FRIEDEL.

` KN'ocKnowN Box 0R CRATE.,

l APPLICATION FILED OCT-16,1916. 1:,111U2 1 Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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KNGCKDOWN BOX OR CRATE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2'?, 1917.

Application led October 16, 1916. Serial No. 125,926.

To all whom 'it may camera.

Be it known that I, ARTHURv C. Faraoni.,-

a citizen of the United States 0f America, and resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Boxes or Crates, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvelight frame of sufficient strength and dura-I bility to withstand all of the strains to which the box may be subjected owithout transmitting any appreciable stresses to such panels.

lln other words, 1 have sought to produce a comparatively inexpensive, yet light,

'strong and durable box or crate which is easily portable from place to place, or may be collapsed into a relatively small com pact spacea for economy. in shipment or storage when empty.

A further object is to enable the bottom and top frames to be rigidly assembed as separate units and afterward drawn firmly against the ends of suitable corner posts to form the main supporting frame for the panels.

A still further object is to permit all the parts of the box or crate to be easil and quickly assembled without the use o nails or screws. l

Another object is to utilize the tie-rods by which the bottom and top frames are clamped to the opposite ends of the corner posts for holding the panels in operative position at the corners of the frame.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

1n the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying the various features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View, partly broken away, taken in the plane of line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional iewpartly broken away, taken on line 3 3,-

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line il- 4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled parts of the lower frame.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cardboard sheet for forming the panels, shown as partially collapsed.

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views, re'- spectively, of one of the corner posts and one of the tie-rods.

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views, respectively, of one of the bottom frame rails and one of the corner plates.

y As illustrated, the box is substantially rectangular and comprises similar bottom .and top frames 1- and -1-, a series of, `in thlsv instance four, corner posts -2- and side panels -3-- of pasteboard or equivalent comparatively inexpensive material.

The bottom and top frames -1- and -1- are substantially identical, each being rectangular and consistingof a plurality of, in this instance four, similar rails lt one for each side of the box, and metal corner plates 5f for coupling the adjacent ends of the rails of each frame together,

and also for coupling thecorners of such frames to the adjacent ends of the corner posts -2-.

rllhe corner posts 2m and rails -4 are preferably made of relatively narrow strips of wood for lightness and cheapness of manufacture, the corner posts -2 being rabbeted at -6- along their inner sides to form rectangular seats or bearings for the adjacent edges of the panels substantially. the same height as the box,l

or rather extend from the lower face ofthe f bottom frame -1 to the upper face of the top frame -1-, while the length of the rails -4 is substantially equal to the distance between the edges of the posts at the corresponding side of the b oX so that thelr ends abut against the adjacent edges of the posts, tending to stilfen the entire frame when the corner plates -5 are placed 1n operative position. n

These corner plates, as previously stated, are made of metal and are angular in top plan to correspond to the angle of the corners of the box, the plates for each frame being substantially identical and interchangeable, each plate being provided w1th arms ,-8- at right angles to each other, and each arm formed in one side with a lengthwise channel -9- opening from the outer ends thereof.

The same side of each plate at the junctionof the arms -8- is formed with a rectangular socket -10- which is defined from the channels -9 by ribs or braces -11-, and together with the channels 9 form inner and outer lengthwise flanges -12- and '--13-.

Portions of these flanges at opposite sides of the arms -8- are elongated transversely to form gripping fingers -14- of greater height or depth from the bases of said arms than the thickness of the rails -4- which the arms are adapted to embrace so that when the rails are placed in their respective channels -9-.- with one side resting ag'inst the base of the cornei` plate, the portions of the gripping fingers 14- which project beyond the opposite sides of the rails are bent over and upon such sides so as to firmly hold the rails in contact with the base of the plate, it being understood that the width of the ends of the rails is substantially equal to the width of the channels -9- in which they are seated.

In like manner, each socket l0- is of substantially the same width at both sides as that of the end of the corner post which it is to receive so that the walls of the socket, including the ribs -11, will hold the post l against relative lateral movement.

In order that the ends of the rails 4- may abut firmly against the adjacent edges of the corner osts, they are provided w1th transverse rab` ets -15- atthe ends to receive the ribs -11-. ,c

In making either the bottom or top frame, as for example like that showfn in Fig. 5, a

number of rails, in this instance four, corre v sponding to the sides of the box are placed 'with their ends in the channelsof a corresponding number of corner plates 5iusually lying upon a flat surface, and when properly adjusted in their respective channels, the outer ends of the gripping fingers -14 are bent over toward each other and upon the adjacent side of the rails opposite that which rests upon the bases of the corner plates, the bending operation serving to tightly clamp the wood rails to the corner plates without the use of nails, screws or other fastening means.

The panels -3 for a single box are preferably made of a single sheet of cardboard or equivalent comparatively inexpen sive material, the height being substantially equal to the distance between the bases of the channels y-7- in the rails of the lower and upper frames when the latter are clamped in operative position against opposite ends of the upright corner posts -2- in a manner hereinafter described, the length of the sheet being substantialy equal to the combined width of the sides of the box, or rather the combined length of the channels of all four rails of each frame with suficient extra material at the ends to permit such ends to be adhesively secured to each other in overlapped rela-tion so as to make a practically unitary article of manufacture, said sheet being creased or scored at intervals to correspond to the corners of the boX, thus permitting the completed article to be folded flat, as shown in Fig. 6, or unfolded for installation in the main frame of the boX or crate during the assembling operation.

When the lower and upper frames are completed in the manner previously described, the lower frame is placed upon a suitable support and the corner posts are then placed in operative position with their lower ends resting in the sockets -10- of the lower frame, whereupon the panel body as a whole is placed in operative position with its lower edges resting in the channels -7 of the lower frame and its corners seated in the rabbets in the inner sides of the corner posts.

The upper frame is then placed upon the upper ends of the posts in such manner as to register its sockets 10- therewith and its channels --7-v with the corresponding edges of the panels.

The lower and upper frames are then firmly drawn against the ends of the posts by means of tie-rods -16- passing through apertures -17- in the bases of the corner plates 5, each rod being provided at one end with a head -18- and at its opposite end with a threaded socket section -19- having a slotted head -20- for the reception of a screw-driver by which it may be turned upon the adjacent threaded end of the main portion of the tie-rod.

,Y The apertures 17 in the bases of the corner plates -5- are so arranged as to register with' the rabbets -6- of adjacent posts -2- with just sufficient clearance between the tie-rods and bases of the rabbets to receive the corners of the pastboard i,panels -3.

That is,'the tie-rods -16- are located llt@ ttl

at the inner sides of the corners of the panels to firmly hold the panels against the inner faces of the corner posts, said tie-rods being usually inserted from the bottom upwardly through the apertures -17- in the lower plates, while the screw caps 19- are inserted from the top downwardly through the apertures -17- in the upper plates and are then screwed upon the adjacent ends of the main portions of the tierods by means of a screw-driver, or other suitable tool, thereby firmly clamping both the upper and lower frames against the' adjacent ends of the corner posts in one and the same operation without the use of eX- tra fastening means.

The outer faces of the bases of the corner plates are provided with raised bosses -21-, preferably circular and concentric with the corresponding apertures -17-, each boss being provided with a socket in which the adjacent heads of the tie-rods are sea-ted and protected by the annular flanges of the bosses, .the bosses on the lower frame serving as supporting feet for the box and are preferably of larger diameter than the bosses on the upper plates so that when the boxes are stacked one upon the other, they will telescope with the bosses of the upper plates to hold the stacked boxes against relative lateral movement and in exact vertical alinement, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. rl`he portions of the lower rails which project inwardly beyond the inner faces of the panels serve as convenient supports for a suitable bottom -22 which may rest loosely upon said rails or may be fastened thereto by any suitable fastening means not necessary to herein illustrate or describe, it being understood that the bottom will be of substantially the `same area as the interior of the boxand will, therefore, be held in operative position lagainst lateral movement by the lower edges of the panels and rails in which they are seated.

The parts of the box may be readily collapsed by simply detaching the caps -19 from the tierods and then withdrawing said rods, whereupon the upper frame and corner posts may be separated one from the j other and from the bottom frame, and after the panel body has been collapsed in the manner shown in Fig. 6, all kof the parts may be laid flatwise upon the bottom within a relatively small space, or, if necessary the rails of both frames may be detached from the corner pieces by simply withdrawing them from their respective channels, thus permitting the parts to be brought into a still more compact space.

What ll claim is:

1. lln a knock-down box or crate, the combination of separate sets of rails for thef' bottom and top of the box, respectively, up-

till

right posts for the corners of the box, corner plates, each embracing the adjacert ends of a corner post .and rails, and tie-rods connecting corresponding corner plates.

2. 1n a knock-down box or crate, a bottom frame composed of separate rails, one for each side, and corner plates having channeled arms receiving the adjacent ends of the rails and provided with gripping members overhanging portions of the channels and rails for holding said rails in the channels, in combination with corner posts having their lower ends seated in said channels at the adjacent ends of the rails, a top frame resting on the upper ends of the posts, and tie-rods connecting the cornerplates of the bottom frame with the corresponding corners of the top frame. y

3. lln a knock-down box or crate, the combination with a bottom frame having sockets at the corners, and posts at said corners having their lower ends seated in said sockets, of a top frame composed of separate rails, one for each side, corner plates having sockets and channels receiving, respectively, the upper ends of the posts and adjacent ends of the rails, and adjustable means for drawing the corners of both frames against the adjacent ends of the posts.

4. In a knock-down box or crate, a loottom frame, a top frame, and corner posts, each frame comprising a set of separate rails, one for each side of the box, and corner plates embracing the adjacent ends of the posts and rails, in combination with tierods connecting corresponding corner plates of both frames.

5. ln a knock-down box or crate, a bottom frame, a top frame, and corner posts, each frame comprising a set of separate rails, one for each side of the box, and corner plates embracing the adjacent ends of the posts and rails, in combination with -tierods connecting corresponding corner plates of both frames, and side panels connected .at the corners between the posts and tierods.

6. In a knock-down box or crate, the combination of bottom and top frames having sockets at the corners, corner posts having their ends seated in said sockets, tie-bolts at the inner sides of the posts connecting corresponding corners of the frames, and sideV panels connected at the corners between the posts and tie-rods.

7. In a knock-down box or crate, the combination with a bottom frame having socku ets at the corners, .and posts at said corners having theirlower ends seated in said sockets, of a top frame composed of separate rails, one for each side, corner plates having sockets. and channels receiving, respectively, the upper ends of the posts and vadjacent. ends 0f the rails, tie-rods connecting the corner plates .at the inner sides of the posts,

and side panels having their upright edges held between the adjacent posts and tie-rods.

8. In a knock-down box or crate, the com bination of a bottom frame, a top frame, corner posts, clamping devices at the corners for drawing the frames against the ends of the corner posts, and panels between the frames and Vcorner posts, each frame comprising a set of separate rails, one for each side of the box, and separate kcorner plates embracing .adjacent ends. of the rails and provided with sockets for the adjacent ends of the corner posts, each rail having a lengthwise channel for receiving the adjacent edge of the corresponding panel.

9. Ina knock-down box or crate, the combination of a bottom frame, a top frame, corner posts rabbeted along their inner sides, panels seated at the corners in the rabbets, and tie-rods connecting corresponding corners ofthe frame and extending through the ceiving the lower and upper edges of the I panels.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set myhand this 11th day of October, 1916.

j ARTHUR C. FRIEDEL. Witnesses:

H. E. CHASE, ALICE M. CANNON. 

